The prospects are rather bad. With three defeats, the volleyball players move into the next round at the World Cup. Nevertheless, cautious confidence prevails.
Three defeats in a row, bottom of the group and the quarter-finals are a long way off: The starting position for the German volleyball players in the intermediate round of the World Cup is anything but easy. But even if the anger and disappointment after the preliminary round was great, there is cautious confidence for the challenges ahead.
“These are four difficult opponents, but four beatable opponents. We will play every game from start to finish”said DVV sports director Christian Dünnes.
Against Turkey, Thailand, Dominican Republic and Poland
The start of the second round for the selection of the German Volleyball Association (DVV) on Tuesday (October 4th, 2022) in Lodz, Poland, against Turkey (7:00 p.m.), third at the European Championships. In addition, the DVV women in Group F will meet Thailand (Wednesday, 3:00 p.m.), the Dominican Republic (Friday, 7:00 p.m.) and on Saturday, at the end, co-hosts Poland (8:30 p.m.) – all teams are at least in the world rankings before Germany.
Reaching the quarterfinals at the tournament in Poland and the Netherlands is not impossible. But for that, the team of national coach Vital Heynen would have to secure at least fourth place in the group of eight.
Last in the intermediate round
And there, after two wins and three losses in the preliminary round, the DVV women are in last place (seven points), because the previous results were carried over to the intermediate round.
Step by step
A win against Canada at the end of the first phase of the tournament would have been all the more important. But after a 2-0 lead, Germany gave up victory and lost 2-3. Heynen was though “disappointed” about the result, but above all there is still one goal: The young team should gain experience at the highest level. In the run-up to the national coach had already emphasized that the World Cup “Step one” be in development.
Thin also explained: “We haven’t gotten to the point where we can fully utilize our potential.” you have “shown it in many situations”but “We can’t call it up in every difficulty. It’s a maturing process for the team.”
Heynen: “Are in the next round”
And that should also be continued at the World Cup. “We are young. We have to learn a lot over the next few days, months and years, keep at it”Thinness explained. “We are in the next round”Heynen said: “Let’s see if we can make steps forward there again.”